How Do Illinois Courts Decide if an At-Home Injury Counts as Work-Related?

 Posted on September 02, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

Remote and hybrid work arrangements are now a normal part of life for many Illinois employees. While this flexibility has clear benefits, it also raises difficult questions about workers’ compensation. If you are hurt while working from home, how can you prove that your injury is work-related? 

The answer depends on what Illinois law defines as "arising out of and in the course of employment." If you have been injured at home and are unsure about your rights, one of our Springfield, IL workers’ compensation lawyers can explain your options.

What Does Illinois Law Require for an Injury to be Considered Work-Related?

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, 820 ILCS 305/, says that an injury must arise out of and occur in the course of employment to qualify for benefits. "Arising out of" means the injury is connected to something for your job. "In the course of" means it happened while you were performing your work duties or something reasonably incidental to those duties.

In an office or warehouse, this framework is usually straightforward. At home, the line between work and personal life can blur, and that is where courts step in to evaluate the facts.

What Types of Work-Related Injuries at Home Might Be Covered for Remote Workers in Illinois?

Courts consider whether the activity that led to the injury was primarily related to work. For example, a remote employee who falls down the stairs in their home while carrying work documents to their home office may have a stronger claim than someone who slices their finger while making lunch in their kitchen.

Courts are more likely to award compensation for slips, trips, or falls in an area of your home that you commonly use for your work, injuries from defective office equipment supplied by the employer, or repetitive stress injuries caused by job-required computer use.

When Does an At-Home Work Injury Be Denied Workers’ Comp? 

Not every injury at home will qualify. Courts often deny claims when the activity was primarily personal in nature rather than work-related. For example, injuries that occur while preparing meals, walking through the home for purposes unrelated to work duties, or playing with children or pets are less likely to be covered. 

Some short, necessary breaks may still be covered under the personal-comfort doctrine, but outcomes tend to depend on the specific circumstances. In these cases, the court may determine that the connection between the incident in which you got injured and your job is too weak to justify compensation.

How Do Courts Handle Gray Areas in Remote Work Injury Claims?

As more remote work cases are brought forward, Illinois courts are trying clarify these issues. Judges and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) examine several factors, including:

• Where you were injured

• What you were doing before and during your injury

• Whether your employer told you what to do or provided equipment for the task

• Whether the injury occurred during expected work hours

Each case is unique and depends on its own facts, which is why two seemingly similar incidents can lead to very different outcomes.

What Can Remote Workers Do to Protect Their Workers’ Compensation Claims?

If you are hurt while working from home, Illinois law also requires you to notify your employer within 45 days of the injury, so it is important to do this as soon as possible. Other important steps include documenting the circumstances and seeking medical treatment. Keeping thorough records of your work environment and what you were doing when the injury occurred can help establish a stronger link between your injury and your job duties.

Contact a Springfield, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Seeking compensation for at-home work injuries can be challenging, but you do not need to navigate the claims process on your own. At Kanoski Bresney, our Bloomington, IL workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to providing our clients with professional guidance that helps them make informed decisions and seek positive outcomes. Call us at 888-826-8682 to schedule a free consultation so we can help you pursue the benefits you deserve.